Cap for liquid container

ABSTRACT

A cap for a vehicle coolant or fuel container with an automatically functioning excess-pressure and vacuum valve. The sealing lid of the cap is connected to a central part displaceable for a sealing relationship with a shoulder of the container against the action of a compression spring. A vacuum valve part is displaceably mounted in an axial opening in the center part. The vacuum valve has a bottom flange which is urged by a leaf spring into a sealing relationship with the central part against the action of a vacuum applied therebeneath.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,881,507

Stump May 6, 1975 CAP FOR LIQUID CONTAINER 2,603,379 7/1952 Friend 137/4939 x 3,203,445 8/1965 McCormick... 137/4934 [75] Inventor: Euge Stump Stuttgart Germany 3,299,960 1/1967 Stern 137 493 x [73] Assignee: Suddeutsche Kuklerfabrik, 3,693,651 9/1972 Gifford 137/493 Stuttgart, Germany A Primary Examiner-Martin P. Schwadron [22] Ffled' Feb. 1974 Assistant ExaminerRobert J. Miller [21] Appl. No.: 442,093 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Browdy and Neimark [30] Foreign Application Priority Data 57 ABSTRACT Feb. 22, 1973 Germany 2308669 A p for a vehicle coolant or fuel container with an automatically functioning excess-pressure and vacuum (g1. valve. The sealing d of the p is connected to a Gem [58] Fieid 9 493 4 tral part displaceable for a sealing relationship with a 137/493 3 493 2 7 shoulder of the container against the action of a compression spring. A vacuum valve part is displaceably mounted in an axial opening in the center part. The vacuum valve has a bottom flange which is urged by a [56] References Clted leaf spring into a sealing relationship with the central UNITED STATES PATENTS part against the action of a vacuum applied therebe- 2,191,614 2/1940 Frantz 137/4936 X neath, 2,266,314 12/1941 Eshbaugh 137/4936 X 2,591,562 4/1952 Levell 137/4934 X 10 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 7 If Z0 Z2 CAP FOR LIQUID CONTAINER FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention concerns a cap for a liquid container, especially a coolant or fuel container for vehicles, with automatically functioning excess-pressure or vacuum valves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In a known type of radiator cap with an excess pressure valve, a sliding element is riveted to the sealing lid and has a flange. A sealing element, pressed SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to construct a container cap of the type described above, such that it consists of only a few parts which are simple to manufacture and such that assembly can be largely accom plished through automation.

This object is achieved in a cap of the type described above mainly by virtue of the present invention, in which the sealing lid is provided with a central part which is displaceable against the action of a compression spring, with a vacuum valve part centrally mounted on the central part, and with a spring connection between the central part and the vacuum valve.

According to a preferred sample embodiment of the invention, the spring connection consists of a leaf spring which passes through a hole in a guiding element of the vacuum valve part and through radial slots in the central part. Pushed diagonally through the central part, the leaf spring allows easy replacement of a sealing ring by simply withdrawing the leaf spring.

Advantageously, the central part is provided with an annular flange having a groove to accept the sealing ring.

The vacuum valve part is advantageously provided with an annular rim which presses against the sealing ring from below to act as the vacuum valve seat.

The excess-pressure valve seat is formed advantageously by making the outside diameter of the annular flange of the central part larger than the inside diameter of the opening of the container on which it is mounted, in such manner that the edge of the container opening forms the excess-pressure valve seat with the annular flange and the sealing ring.

According to a first sample embodiment of the invention, the central part is displaceably mounted on a guide located in the center of the sealing lid.

According to a modified sample embodiment of the invention, the sealing lid is characterized by having a shell open at the bottom with an internal projection, and the central part is characterized by having a conical annular extension with an outer groove, in such fashion that the central part is freely displaceably located with its outer groove between the sealing lid and the internal projection. For assembly purposes, this shell with the internal projection and the outer groove of the central part form a snap connection. After assembly, the central part is permanently attached to the sealing lid.

The compression spring of the excess-pressure valve rests against the sealing cap on the one side and against the annular flange of the central part on the other. It is especially advantageous if the diameter of the compression spring is chosen so that the compression spring is guided by the shelllike internal projection of the sealing lid.

A further advantage is obtained if the sealing lid and- /or the central part and/or the vacuum valve part are made of plastic. This means that anodic effects can be eliminated, especially in the case of aluminum radiators.

Further advantages and features of the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the drawing, which shows schematic representations of sample embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational crosssection of a first sample embodiment in accordance with the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is an elevational cross-section of another sample embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The first sample embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIG. 1, discloses a container 25 with a filling neck 24. The cap according to the invention is mounted on said neck and locked in known fashion. The cap consists of a sealing lid 1, to which a central part 3 is displaceably connected by means of a rivet 15, said central part being capable of moving against the action of a compression spring 2. One end of the rivet 20 serves as a limiting means, interacting with an upper lid section 22 of central part 3. Central part 3 is provided with a cylindrical central opening, in which a vacuum valve part 4 is displaceably mounted. Central part 3 is provided with a sealing flange 10, said flange having a groove 11 in which a sealing ring 12 is located. The vacuum valve part 4 has an annular rim 13 which presses against sealing ring 12 from below and forms the vacuum valve seat.

The connection between central part 3 and vacuum valve part 4 is made according to the invention by a leaf spring 5 inserted diagonally, through radial slots 8 and 9 in central part 3 and through hole 6 in vacuum valve part 4. The height of slots 8 and the diameter of hole 6 are chosen such that vacuum valve part 4 rests firmly against sealing ring 12 with its annular rim 13 under normal pressure conditions with the aid of spring 5, but is free to move relative to central part 3 against the action of spring 5 when a vacuum develops.

In the sample embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the connection of central part 23 with a sealing lid 21 is accomplished by means of a shell-like projection 16 in sealing lid 21, which has an internal projection 17. Central part 23 is provided with an annular projection 18 whose upper portion is provided with an external groove 19. During assembly the central part 23 is pushed into shell 16, and a snap connection is formed when the external groove 19 is engaged. Central part 23 is then vertically displaceable but permanently con nected to shell 16.

Compression spring 2 rests in known fashion against sealing lid 21, with a known type of sealing disc 26 advantageously interposed. On the other end compression spring 2 rests on the annular flange of central part 23. The connection between central part 23 and vacuum valve part 4 is accomplished in the same fashion as in the sample embodiment according to FIG. 1, with the aid of leaf spring 5.

Sealing lid 21, central part 23 or 3 and vacuum valve part 4 are advantageously made of plastic. Of course, sealing ring 12 and sealing disc 26 can be made of synthetic rubber or the like.

These plastic parts can be formed automatically by injection molding and may be simply assembled.

Vacuum valve part 4 is given a diameter as large as container opening 14 will allow, so that the specific pressure on the valve seat will be greater. As we know, the required spring tension varies as the square of the diameter, while the valve seat length changes only linearly. The spring tension is provided by leaf spring 5, inserted diagonally.

As described above, central part 23 and shell 16 form a snap connection.

The antifrictional properties of plastic are so good that the threads for the tightening of the cap are subjected to practically zero wear if they are made of brass and plastic, as well as aluminum.

it is also possible to fabricate the sealing lid from colored or painted plastic, so that filling neck 24 is easily recognizable in a complicated cooling system.

The invention is not limited to the sample embodiments herein shown and described. It also encompasses all modifications by persons skilled in the art, as well as partial and subcombinations of the features and methods described and/or shown.

I claim:

1. A cap with automatically operating excesspressure and vacuum valves for a liquid container having a cylindrical opening neck and a shoulder extending within said neck below the top thereof, comprising a sealing lid having means for engaging the neck of the liquid container;

a central part displaceably connected to said lid and positioned on the underside thereof and said central part having radial slots therethrough;

a compression spring urging said central part away from said sealing lid toward contact with the shoulder of the liquid container;

a vacuum valve part displaceably mounted within said central part and having a flanged portion therebelow and said vacuum valve part having a lateral hole therethrough in the area of said radial slots, and

spring means comprising a leaf spring passing through said radial slots and said lateral hole for urging the flanged portion of said vacuum valve part toward said central part;

whereby an excess pressure will urge said central part away from sealing engagement with the shoulder and a vacuum will urge said vacuum valve part away from sealing engagement with said central part.

2. A cap in accordance with claim 1, wherein said central part has an annular flange and groove means for accepting a sealing ring in contact with said annular flange, and further including a sealing ring within said groove means and in contact with said annular flange.

3. A cap in accordance with claim 2, wherein the flange of said vacuum valve part has an annular rim upstanding thereon which acts as the vacuum valve seat by pressing against said sealing ring from below.

4. A cap in accordance with claim 2, wherein the annular flange of said central part has an outer diameter sufficient to rest on the shoulder without touching the neck of the container such that the shoulder forms an excess pressure valve seat with said annular flange and said sealing ring.

5. A cap in accordance with claim 1, wherein said central part is displaceably mounted on a rivet connected to the center of said sealing lid.

6. A cap in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sealing lid has a shell-like projection open at the bottom thereof, centrally connected to the underside of said sealing lid, the opening of said projection having an internal flange thereon, and wherein said central part has an external flange on the top portion thereof within said shell-like projection for engagement with the internal flange of said projection, whereby said central part is freely displaceably mounted for motion between the undersurface of said sealing lid and the internal flange of said projection.

7. A cap in accordance with claim 2, wherein said compression spring rests on one side against said sealing lid and on the other side against the annular flange of said central part.

8. A cap in accordance with claim 6, wherein said central part has an annular flange and wherein said compression spring rests on one side against said sealing lid with the projection thereof therewithin and on the other side against the annular flange of said central part whereby said compression spring is guided by said shell-like projection.

9. A cap in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sealing lid, said central part and said vacuum valve part are all made of plastic.

10. A cap in accordance with claim 6, wherein said sealing lid, said central part and said vacuum valve part are all made of plastic.

=l l l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,8 1,507 DATED :May 6, 1975 INVENTOR(S) :Eugen STUMP It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

The correct name of the assignee is:

SHDDEUTSCHE KiJ'HLERFABRIK JULIUS FriBEHR which is equivalent to:

SUEDDEUTSCHE KUEHLERFABRIK JULIUS Fr BEHR Signed and Scaled this sixth Day of April1976 Attest.

RUTH- C. MTAHSON C. MARSHALL DANN AIIESIIIlg Officer Commissioner uj'larents and Trademarks 

1. A cap with automatically operating excesspressure and vacuum valves for a liquid container having a cylindrical opening neck and a shoulder extending within said neck below the top thereof, comprising a sealing lid having means for engaging the neck of the liquid container; a central part displaceably connected to said lid and positioned on the underside thereof and said central part having radial slots therethrough; a compression spring urging said central part away from said sealing lid toward contact with the shoulder of the liquid container; a vacuum valve part displaceably mounted within said central part and having a flanged portion therebelow and said vacuum valve part having a lateral hole therethrough in the area of said radial slots, and spring means comprising a leaf spring passing through said radial slots and said lateral hole for urging the flanged portion of said vacuum valve part toward said central part; whereby an excess pressure will urge said central part away from sealing engagement with the shoulder and a vacuum will urge said vacuum valve part away from sealing engagement with said central part.
 2. A cap in accordance with claim 1, wherein said central part has an annular flange and groove means for accepting a sealing ring in contact with said annular flange, and further including a sealing ring within said groove means and in contact with said annular flange.
 3. A cap in accordance with claim 2, wherein the flange of said vacuum valve part has an annular rim upstanding thereon which acts as the vacuum valve seat by pressing against said sealing ring from below.
 4. A cap in accordance with claim 2, wherein the annular flange of said central part has an outer diameter sufficient to rest on the shoulder without touching the neck of the container such that the shoulder forms an excess pressure valve seat with said annular flange and said sealing ring.
 5. A cap in accordance with claim 1, wherein said central part is displaceably mounted on a rivet connected to the center of said sealing lid.
 6. A cap in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sealing lid has a shell-like projection open at the bottom thereof, centrally connected to the underside of said sealing lid, the opening of said projection having an internal flange thereon, and wherein said central part has an external flange on the top portion thereof within said shell-like projection for engagement with the internal flange of said projection, whereby said central part is freely displaceably mounted for motion between the undersurface of said sealing lid and the internal flange of said projection.
 7. A cap in accordance with claim 2, wherein said compression spring rests on one side against said sealing lid and on the other side against the annular flange of saiD central part.
 8. A cap in accordance with claim 6, wherein said central part has an annular flange and wherein said compression spring rests on one side against said sealing lid with the projection thereof therewithin and on the other side against the annular flange of said central part whereby said compression spring is guided by said shell-like projection.
 9. A cap in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sealing lid, said central part and said vacuum valve part are all made of plastic.
 10. A cap in accordance with claim 6, wherein said sealing lid, said central part and said vacuum valve part are all made of plastic. 